Ex-Moldovan PM arrested for corruption

Police detained the pro-EU former Moldovan prime minister Vlad Filat in Parliament Thursday, later charging him with corruption offenses over the disappearance of around $1 billion from the banking system last year.

Lawmakers had earlier voted to lift Filat's parliamentary immunity, while outside about 2,000 people gathered in ongoing protests over the money, which disappeared from three banks in November 2014.

Reuters reported that the protesters blocked exits for most of the day to prevent Filat leaving. Video shows him eventually being taken away by masked police.

General prosecutor Corneliu Gurin alleged Filat took $260 million in bribes from businessman Ilan Shor to help him gain control of one of the country's banks.

Gurin said: "We have conclusive evidence that Filat committed fraud worth hundreds of millions of euros at the Savings Bank.” He added that the "very serious crime" also involved the destruction of evidence.

Filat, who is being detained for 72 hours, denied the charges, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail. He told reporters: "This is just cheap show. I can prove my innocence in court."

The 46-year-old leads the pro-European Liberal-Democratic Party of Moldova, which forms part of the current governing coalition, and was prime minister from 2009 to 2013.

Filat resigned after a no-confidence motion in Parliament in March 2013, which followed feuding within the pro-EU governing coalition. Moldova’s Constitutional Court then ruled he could not hold the position again, just before a vote that would likely have seen him reinstated.

In July last year Moldova ratified an association agreement with the EU, strengthening trade and other ties.

In June this year, Chiril Gaburici, a 38-year-old pro-Europe businessman, resigned as prime minister after just over 100 days in office after state prosecutors questioned him over school certificates. In July, Filat’s party joined the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party in a coalition that advocated closer EU integration.

Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet said Thursday, “The government will continue its activity.”

A European Commission spokesperson said it is "closely following" developments and "takes note of the vote held in the Parliament on October 15, whereby a majority of MPs expressed themselves in favor of lifting the immunity of Mr. Filat and his subsequent detention."

"The EU reiterates that investigations on the banking frauds should be effective, impartial and comprehensive. The persons responsible should be brought to justice and the stolen money should be recovered, without further delay."